Environmental Education
Activities &
Games

Descriptions of
Environmental Education Activities & Games

This 12-page booklet is designed to be a practical and
inspirational
primer for environmental activities which can be
applied in diverse settings. Activities focus on raising environmental awareness and developing eco-sustainable behavior. [A4
booklet]

There is arguably no more intimate way of getting to know nature than
by handling it with bare hands and even, yes, eating it. Most
insects are edible and nutritious. Opening your mouth can open your mind.

If we slept for 100 years, what would the
world look like and what would we do? Individuals or groups can
dream, draw, write, act, discuss, etc. possible scenarios. Such
activities help people to envisage new possibilities for more
sustainable relations with nature.

Favorite Place in Nature

Where is your favorite place in nature?
Write a description, draw or picture or describe the place to someone
else. What makes it special?

Nature Scavenger Hunt

One way to run a nature scavenger hunt is to
hand out an egg carton and a list of 12 items to collect - e.g., natural
items which are: soft, spiky, blue, strong, beautiful, old, fragile,
yummy, sharp, smooth, closed, open, wet, dry, from an animal, dead, etc.
(be creative).

Leaf Rainbow

A nature art exercise: In small groups,
students search for leaves of different shades and colors and create a
"leaf rainbow".

Night Eyes

Go for a night walk without a flashlight
(torch). At first, sit in one place and let your eyes adjust (10-15
minutes). You might be amazed how much you can see. As you walk, scan
ahead by looking out the sides of your eyes – your night vision is even
better in the periphery. If walking through the forest (bush), have your
hands in front, protecting your face.

Observing the
Micro-Universe

Peg out a 1 metre x 1 metre (3ft x 3ft)
square in a patch of nature. Sit in the square for an hour, focusing
only focus on what is inside the square. Observe the terrain and the
myriad of natural dramas which are unfolding on the micro-scale.

Star therapy

Lay down under the night sky and watch the
stars (or clouds in the daytime). An age-old, natural natural way of
calming anxiety and dealing with depression.

What Has Changed in 150 Years?

What has changed in the last 150 years?
Brainstorm as many things that have changed as you can. This is ideal for
small groups – run it as a brainstorming competition. Ask groups to read
their lists out to the whole group. Discuss the main themes, the
surprises, etc. (Also see
What Was Life Like a Long Time Ago?)

Ancestral Visualization

Imagine this: All your direct ancestors
standing on your left, in a line, starting with your father (or mother),
your grandfather, your great-grandfather, etc. All your future
direct descendants standing on your right, starting with your son (or
daughter), grandson, etc. These two lines stretch out over the horizon.
Imagine being able to send messages “Chinese whisper” style up and down
the line.
What would you say? What would you ask?

Kill an Animal and Skin and Eat It

Bound to be controversial and not to be
taken lightly. For the first time ever in human history, there are
large sections of human society who have never killed an animal (other
than an insect) with their bare hands and then made direct use of the
animal such as for the skin or food. Our bond with nature becomes
much deeper when we are directly engaged in the cycles of life and death.

Camping in the Backyard

Why do we spend all the time, fuel, energy,
etc. going off for outdoor camping trips? Most of the benefits of camping
(plus some extra ones) could be obtained by families sleeping in their
backyards. (If you don’t have a backyard, try the balcony, roof or a
friend’s or neighbor’s place). Sleep in your backyard for at least a
week each year. Cook on a fire (or a stove if fires aren’t permitted), eat
home-grown vegetables, don’t watch TV or use power or the telephone. Stay
on your property, but don’t use the house. Really live in your
backyard and get to know and care for it. It might change your life
forever – and it will cost less than your normal, everyday life.

Descriptions of
Environmental Education Activities & Games (on other sites)

Allocate each person an element and discuss what kind of
personality/behavior attributes belong with to each elements. Then
have people move through the playspace, acting out their element.
Rotate through each element.

A role-playing workshop. Participants each play the role of a part of
the natural environment, then speak during a "council of all beings" at
which no humans are present. Beforehand, participant make each make a
masks to represent their particular aspect of nature.
Has been used with adults, youth and children.

A role playing game to help people understand the impact of
litter and pollutants on our sea birds and marine animals. Common items
such as plastic bags, bottle tops and cigarette butts, can be fatally
mistaken by coastal birds and animals. Students work in pairs, one
is the narrator and one is the coastal animal. The role playing helps
the students identify with the animal and allows them to be creative in
developing a narrative and actions. For younger groups, the teacher can
narrate.